http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/28/nyregion/hacker-who-helped-disrupt-cyberattacks-is-allowed-to-walk-free.html
By Benjamin Weiser
The New York Times
May 27, 2014
The New York man whose cooperation helped the authorities infiltrate the
shadowy world of computer hacking and disrupt at least 300 cyberattacks on
targets that included the United States military, courts and private
companies was given a greatly reduced sentence on Tuesday of time served
and allowed to walk free.
Federal prosecutors had sought leniency for the hacker, Hector Xavier
Monsegur, citing his efforts in helping the Federal Bureau of
Investigation take down an aggressive group of hackers who were part of
the collective Anonymous, with which he had been involved, and its
splinter groups, which had taken credit for attacking government and
corporate websites.
Mr. Monsegur’s information, the authorities said, led to the arrest of
eight “major co-conspirators,” including Jeremy Hammond, whom the F.B.I.
had called its top “cybercriminal target” and who was sentenced to 10
years in prison in November.
The judge, Loretta A. Preska of Federal District Court, gave Mr. Monsegur
time served, calling his cooperation “truly extraordinary”; he had spent
seven months in custody in 2012.
[...]
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